JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, a saga masterminded by Hirohiko Araki since 1987, has captivated audiences with its multi-generational tale of the Joestar family. Their destiny, intertwined with battles against formidable foes, often finds its roots in the machinations of the infamous Dio Brando. The series, segmented into distinct parts, each spotlighting a different scion of the Joestar lineage and their unique struggles, presents a narrative tapestry as rich as it is complex. Navigating the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure family tree can feel like its own bizarre adventure, regardless of your viewing order. This guide aims to untangle the branches of this iconic family tree, clarifying the connections and legacies that define JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Jonathan Joestar: The Progenitor
The saga begins with Jonathan Joestar, voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu, the inaugural Jojo and son of George Joestar I and Mary Joestar. Phantom Blood, Part 1 of the series, chronicles Jonathan’s life-altering encounter with his adopted brother, Dio Brando. Dio’s insidious nature and relentless attempts to sabotage Jonathan’s existence culminate in tragedy. Dio’s transformation into a vampire and the subsequent murder of George Joestar I ignite Jonathan’s path to becoming a master of Hamon. Under the tutelage of Will Anthonio Zeppeli, Jonathan swiftly masters Hamon techniques, confronting Dio at Windknight’s Lot. Though Jonathan seemingly vanquishes Dio and destroys the Stone Mask responsible for his vampirism, Dio’s survival is a testament to his enduring menace. Jonathan marries Erina Pendleton, but their honeymoon is tragically cut short by a resurrected Dio. In a final act of heroism, Jonathan ensures Erina’s safety and that of their unborn child, George Joestar II.
Joseph Joestar: Hamon Hero and Stand User
Skipping George Joestar II in the direct protagonist lineage, we are introduced to Joseph Joestar, voiced by Tomokazu Sugita and Unsho Ishizuka, the central figure of Battle Tendency, Part 2. Joseph, son of George Joestar II and Elizabeth Joestar (Lisa Lisa), distinguishes himself as the last Joestar protagonist to wield Hamon before Stands become the dominant power system in Stardust Crusaders, Part 3. Lisa Lisa, Joseph’s mother, becomes his Hamon mentor, mirroring her role with Caesar Zeppeli, voiced by Takuya Satō, grandson of Jonathan’s Hamon instructor. Together, Joseph and Caesar hone their Hamon skills, embarking on a mission to defeat the Pillar Men. Caesar’s poignant death during a battle with Wamuu, voiced by Akio Ōtsuka, fuels Joseph’s resolve to overcome Kars, voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue.
Joseph’s narrative takes a turn as he marries Suzie Q, voiced by Sachiko Kojima, and they have a daughter, Holy Joestar, voiced by Reiko Takagi. Joseph reappears in Stardust Crusaders to aid his grandson, Jotaro Kujo, voiced by Daisuke Ono, in saving Holy from a life-threatening Stand affliction linked to Dio’s resurgence. Post-Stardust Crusaders, Joseph’s life takes another unexpected path with an affair with Tomoko Higashikata, voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi, resulting in his illegitimate son, Josuke Higashikata, voiced by Yuki Ono. This connection makes Joseph a crucial ally in Diamond is Unbreakable, Part 4, where he assists Josuke in navigating the Stand-related threats in Morioh, including the notorious Yoshikage Kira, voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa. During his Morioh sojourn, Joseph adopts Shizuka Joestar, an infant he discovers, further expanding the Joestar family in unconventional ways. Beyond Jotaro, Joseph stands as the most recurring Joestar across the series, underscoring his enduring relevance to the overarching narrative.
Jotaro Kujo: The Stoic Stand Master
The Joestar lineage again skips a generation to spotlight Jotaro Kujo, Holy’s son and Sadao Kujo’s offspring. Stardust Crusaders marks a pivotal shift, transplanting JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to Japan and introducing Stands as the primary combat ability. Joseph, Jotaro’s grandfather, accompanied by Muhammad Avdol, a fellow Stand user voiced by Kenta Miyake, journeys to Japan. They liberate Jotaro from confinement after a violent incident, revealing Dio’s return, now grafted onto Jonathan’s stolen body. Holy’s Stand manifestation overwhelms her spirit, compelling Jotaro on a perilous odyssey to Egypt to confront and eradicate Dio. This journey is fraught with loss as Jotaro mourns companions Noriaki Kakyoin, voiced by Daisuke Hirakawa, Avdol, and Iggy, and narrowly saves Joseph from death’s door. The emotional scars of this journey are palpable in Jotaro’s subsequent appearances.
Sometime after Stardust Crusaders, Jotaro marries an unnamed woman and fathers Jolyne Cujoh, voiced by Fairouz Ai. He reappears in Diamond is Unbreakable as a mentor to Josuke and his allies, investigating the Stand-bestowing Bow and Arrow. Briefly in Vento Aureo, Part 5, he dispatches Koichi, voiced by Yuki Kaji, to Italy to locate Giorno Giovanna, Dio’s son. Stone Ocean, Part 6, finds Jotaro aiding Jolyne after she uncovers a disc containing his memories. It’s revealed he has divorced his wife, adding another layer to his complex persona.
Josuke Higashikata: The Righteous Healer
Josuke Higashikata, Joseph Joestar’s son with Tomoko Higashikata, carries the Joestar legacy forward in Diamond is Unbreakable. Raised primarily by his mother and maternal grandfather, Ryohei Higashikata, voiced by Katsuhisa Hōki, due to Joseph’s absence, Josuke’s grandfather’s tragic death galvanizes him to defend Morioh from malevolent Stand users. His relationship with his nephew, Jotaro, deepens upon Jotaro’s arrival in Morioh at Joseph’s behest. Initially reserved towards Joseph, Josuke warms to him, recognizing their shared commitment to helping others. Josuke embodies the Joestar family’s inherent kindness, albeit with a fierce protectiveness, especially regarding his distinctive hairstyle.
Diamond is Unbreakable introduces the Arrow as a central plot device, capable of awakening Stands in living beings, including animals. This artifact is pivotal in Vento Aureo and Stone Ocean. The Arrow is responsible for Josuke’s friend Okuyasu Nijimura’s Stand acquisition and many antagonist Stands in Part 4. Furthermore, it influences the Stand abilities of key Stone Ocean characters like Ermes, Weather Report, and Jolyne.
Giorno Giovanna: The Enigmatic Offspring
Giorno Giovanna, protagonist of Vento Aureo, presents the most perplexing branch in the Jojo family tree. Born to an unnamed mother, Giorno’s parentage is uniquely complex: biologically conceived using Jonathan Joestar’s body hijacked by Dio Brando, he is considered a son of both. Giorno inherits physical traits and personality aspects from both Jonathan and Dio, showcasing Dio’s hair color and ruthlessness alongside Jonathan’s Joestar birthmark and gentlemanly demeanor. His Stand, Gold Experience, visually and thematically reflects this duality, sharing visual cues with Dio’s The World and possessing life-giving abilities that echo Jonathan’s life being extended through Dio’s actions. Giorno’s lineage places him as George II’s brother, Joseph’s uncle, Holy and Josuke’s great-uncle, Jotaro’s great-great-uncle, and Jolyne’s great-great-great-uncle.
Giorno has three half-brothers through Dio: Donatello, Ungalo, and Rikiel, who exhibit stronger Dio genetic traits. They appear as antagonists in Stone Ocean under Enrico Pucci’s influence, while Giorno remains absent from Part 6’s narrative.
Jolyne Cujoh: The First Female Jojo
Jolyne Cujoh's determined gaze during her mugshot, showcasing her rebellious spirit and central role in Stone Ocean
Jolyne Cujoh, the concluding Jojo of the original timeline and the first and only female Jojo to date, is Jotaro Kujo’s daughter with an unnamed woman. Stone Ocean delves into Jolyne’s strained relationship with her often-absent father, Jotaro. A significant portion of Part 6 revolves around Jolyne’s efforts to rescue Jotaro after Whitesnake steals his Stand and memory discs, plunging him into a coma. Jotaro’s rescue fosters a closer bond, revealing his deep protectiveness towards Jolyne. He bestows upon her an Arrow fragment, awakening her Stand, Stone Free.
Stone Ocean concludes the initial Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure universe as Made in Heaven resets reality. While Jolyne’s ally Emporio defeats Pucci, the universe undergoes another reset, culminating in an alternate Jolyne and Anasui meeting Jotaro to discuss their impending marriage. This ambiguous yet hopeful ending closes the chapter on this iteration of the Joestar saga.
The Joestar family tree, with its intricate web of connections, stands as a testament to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure‘s enduring legacy. From Jonathan’s noble beginnings to Jolyne’s universe-altering journey, each Jojo contributes to a bloodline defined by courage, resilience, and the bizarre adventures that fate throws their way.
